Studies have indicated that electric toothbrushes can be incredibly effective in removing dental plaque when used correctly. 
Dental plaque is a community composed of oral bacteria and too much of the stuff can increase the odds of developing cavities and other dental issues. Dentists suggest brushing teeth for a solid two minutes to lower the levels of the compound, but the reality is most people do not dedicated enough time to brushing and only commit about 45 seconds to their efforts. 

Electric toothbrushes can make the job easier as they can prevent physical exhaustion (allowing for longer brushing sessions) and some devices have internal timers that can make people fully aware of their brush times.

By now, brushing your teeth is second nature. And that's a good thing because one of the best ways to avoid a host of dental diseases and complications is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. But for tooth brushing to be truly effective, you have to know how to brush properly.

Most of us were just kids when we were first taught how to brush our teeth. Our parents may have done a great job teaching us, but it's always a good idea to brush up on your brushing techniques.

Tooth Brushing Made Easy

For truly clean teeth, dentists recommend that you brush for at least two minutes -- not 15 or 30 seconds -- two whole minutes. An easy way to make sure you're brushing long enough is to buy an electric toothbrush with a built-in timer. There are also children's toothbrushes that light up when it's time for your child to stop brushing. However you time it, don't skimp on the length of time you brush -- the two minutes are vital!

Tips on how to brush properly:

- Use short, back-and-forth and up-and-down strokes.

- Pay special attention to your gum line, back teeth and areas around any tooth filling or restoration you might have.

- Clean the inner and outer surfaces of your upper teeth first, and then clean your lower teeth.

- Brush or scrape your tongue to help prevent bad breath.

Don't forget to floss! Brushing and flossing is like peanut butter and jelly -- when you think of one you can't help but think of the other. It may seem tedious, but flossing every day is one of the best things you can do for your oral health.